Jeannie Meyer
Jeannie Meyer is running for Councillor in Elliot Lake.
Jeannie Meyer (she/her) grew up just north of Elliot Lake and has lived in the community for more than ten years. She has served on the City of Elliot Lake's Accessibility Advisory Committee, contributed to discussions about accessibility and inclusion, and previously served as president of a regional nonprofit organization. A gerontologist with regulatory compliance training, Jeannie holds a Master of Science in Aging and Health and is currently completing a master's degree in education. She was recently recruited to the ISO TC314 Canadian mirror committee on ageing societies, where she brings an Elliot Lake perspective to discussions about ageing communities.
Why are you running for this position?
I’m running for Elliot Lake Council to reengage residents within city planning. Elliot Lake residents bring professional expertise, lived experience, and practical ideas, but too often they feel unheard. I want to take an approach rooted in listening, evidence, preparation, and responsible and open decision-making.
What do you love most about your community?
What I love most about Elliot Lake is its people. Residents notice what needs attention, look out for their neighbours, and bring a depth of experience that helps make our community stronger. That knowledge is one of Elliot Lake’s greatest assets.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing your municipality right now?
Elliot Lake’s biggest challenge is diversification. Our history shows the risk of relying too heavily on one economic driver. We moved from a mining-based economy to one centred on retirement living, but replacing one horse with another does not give the community a full team. We need a broader, more resilient economy that creates opportunities across generations, supports local businesses, and builds on the strengths residents already bring to Elliot Lake.
If elected, what is one thing you would like to accomplish during your term?
I would like to strengthen representation through more opportunities for engagement and by making these impact metrics public. Residents should be able to see who is being reached, whose voices are participating, what concerns are raised, and how community input affects decisions. Representation cannot simply be assumed; it should be measured, reviewed, and improved.
What is one thing you would like to see your municipality do differently?
I would like to shift from a reactive to a proactive mindset by aligning Elliot Lake’s priorities with federal and provincial programs. Municipalities often respond only when funding or compliance demands arise, or find that their guiding policies are not aligned with funding bodies. By tracking government priorities and initiatives early and preparing projects that meet those criteria, we can improve our access to grants, partnerships, and opportunities that support our community.
What does good local government look like to you?
Good local government is prepared, innovative, open, transparent, and responsible. It not only listens to residents but also hears them, asks informed questions, tests ideas against evidence and policy, respects and encourages discourse, and communicates decisions and costs in plain language.
If you received a $1 million grant to use for your municipality any way you wanted, what would you do with it?
I would use the $1 million as a project catalyst. It could help recruit city leadership to pursue further opportunities ($75,000), launch more accessible transit ($375,000), put a theatre plan on a grant-ready footing ($100,000), create an affordable/accessible housing contribution with ADSAB ($250,000), and address an additional targeted road priority ($200,000). The goal is to use every local dollar to unlock larger investments and move several urgent needs forward at once.
How do you approach working with people who disagree with you?
I approach disagreement with respect, curiosity, and a focus on the issue at the table. Through my committee work, I have at times disagreed with people I consider friends, and those relationships have remained intact because we share a commitment to listening and working toward the best outcome. Respectful disagreement should be encouraged and expected: it shows that diverse opinions are heard, ideas are tested, and decisions are not made by simply agreeing with one another.
What does having more women in local leadership change?
Greater representation of women in local leadership ensures that women can speak for themselves. Council should reflect the population and who actually lives in the municipality, and women make up over half of the representative voice for decisions affecting their lives, families, work, and community.
What is something about you that you would like voters to know that they might not learn from your campaign platform?
I ran a zero-dollar campaign: no signs, flyers, or paid promotion. I offered my time, a willingness to listen, and a commitment to do the work, and my driveway now and then. While this campaign was fiscally responsible for a student, I also wanted to show that civic participation should not depend on access to money. Governance is, by definition, by all and for all.
Where can people find you?
Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61589506029590
Tiktok: https://padlet.com/jjsmeyer/accessible-elliot-lake-2026-jeannie-meyer-s023aslqupy97n6v56d5
